Children's Vision Massachusetts Newsletter
Children's Vision MA Advocacy Group
Mission: The Children's Vision MA Advocacy Group on Facebook is a new internet-based organization whose mission is to identify areas of need for children's vision services, act on advocacy opportunities to improve access to care, and share resources and information to support improved vision outcomes for children.
Membership is open to parents, grandparents, guardians, caretakers, and families of children who have been diagnosed with vision conditions. Others who are interested in the topic of children's vision are welcome to join as well.
 
Goals:
  1. To provide opportunities for members to meet online and share information
  2. To serve as a parent/ guardian/ family based resource center for children's vision
  3. To organize as a collective voice to create awareness about the importance of optimizing vision development and eye health through early detection and care of vision conditions
To Join:
  • Create an account on Facebook if you don't already have one
  • Search for Children's Vision MA Advocacy Group
  • Click the option Join and get started!
Questions: Please contact Priscilla Kelangi pkelangi@preventblindness.org
Mass Health Children's Vision Benefits 
EYE EXAMS and EYEGLASSES: All you need to know/ As of 2017

MASS HEALTH PLANS
Family Assistance                  Standard                    Care Plus                          CommonHealth
  •  One comprehensive eye exam, by an eye doctor, each year
  • When ordered by eye doctor, additional eye exams during same year
  • Eyeglasses ordered by the eye doctor
  • Replacement eyeglasses if child loses or breaks glasses- NO LIMIT on #
When ordering eyeglasses:
It may take 1-2 months for the eyeglasses to be ready so the eyeglasses should be ordered as soon as possible.  The child/family must return to the eyeglasses store that the eyeglasses were ordered to pick them up so that the optician can check for fit, and make sure the lenses are correct. Policies and procedures in eyeglass stores are established by Mass Health and do not differ between stores.
 
To re-order eyeglasses that have been lost or broken:
Child, parent, health manager, school nurse or other advocate, should call the store where the lost/broken eyeglasses were obtained and report that the glasses are lost or broken and ask that another pair be ordered. Or, take prescription to an eyeglass store that accepts Mass Health insurance and reorder the eyeglasses.  If it has been less than one year since the first pair was ordered, the same frame choice as lost or broken eyeglasses will be used.  If it has been more than one year since the first pair was ordered, the child should have a comprehensive eye exam before re-ordering the eyeglasses to be sure the prescription is correct.
   
For children with private insurance that does not have an eyeglass benefit:
IF a child has private insurance that does not include a benefit for eyeglasses AND is on a free/reduced lunch program AND has a prescription for eyeglasses that is one year old or less assistance for free eyeglasses is available by contacting Priscilla Kelangi, pkelangi@preventblindness.org at Prevent Blindness.

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Children's Vision Massachusetts | (312) 363-6037 | pkelangi@preventblindness.org| http://childrensvision.preventblindness.org/
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